Apparatus for filling cans



(men G. H. PERKINS.

A aratus for Filling Cans. No. 227,825. pp Patented May 18, 1880.

N PErERs, PHOT0-LITHOGRAFHER, WASHINGTON, ac,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. PERKINS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR FILLING CANS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 227,825, dated May 18,1880,

(Model) To a... tohom it may concern:

e it known that I, GEORGE E. PERKINS, of I elphia, Pennsylvania, haveinvented an Ap aratus for Filling Cans, of which the following is aspecification.

Of the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus embodyingmy invention; Fig. 2, a top-plan view of the same; Fig. 3, a transversesectional elevation taken on the line a a of Fig. l 5 F g. 4, atransverse section of the trough, and t lg. 5 a sectional elevation of aconvenient form of cap-piece for the stand-pipe of the supply-reservoir.

Similar lette of reference indicate corresponding parts.

My invention relates to that class of appa ratus which is employed inoil-refineries for the filling of cans, by means of which a large numberof cans are simultaneously supplied with the exact quantity of oil whichis requisite to fill each can of the series simultaneously tilled.

In the apparatus represented provision is made for the simultaneousfilling of ten cans. It is to be understood, however, that theiiivention is susceptible of embodimentin an apparatus adapted to supplya greater or a less number of cans than ten.

111 the drawings, A represents the supplypipe or secondary reservoir,which is continuously supplied, by means of the pipes 13, from a primarytank, receiver, or source of supply. (Not shown in the drawings.) Thereservoir A is a horizontal pipe, closed at one end and at the otherprovided with an elbow, from which ascends a stand-pipe, 0, whose officeis to afford a means of temporary overflow or escape for an excessiverush of oil. The stand-pipe is of any required height, and at its upperextremity is supplied with a cap, D, within which is suspended a hood,E, to reflect back any spray of oil.

F are air-orifices in the cap, and G is arainexcluding diaphragmsurrounding the top of the cap.

Laterally projecting from the reservoir are a series of faucets, H,corresponding in number to the number of compartments of the trough.Each faucet is supplied with a cock-lever, I, whereby the faucet isopened or closed, and all the levers are connected together by a bar, J,

to the extremity of which a handle, M, is attached, whereby the seriesof faucets are simultaneously opened or closed.

Suspended independently of the reservoir, upon a set of scales, K, is anelongated trough, L, provided with such a number of compartments ascorresponds with the number of cans to be supplied. The scales are soset that when the trough has been supplied with the requisite amount ofoil from the faucets which overhang it the scales will indicate itscondition and the trough will descend to an extent limited to the throwof the scale-beam. Internally the trough is divided, by means ofpartitions N, into as many compartments as there are cans. The upperedges of the partitions are stepped off, as shown in Fig. 3, by whichmeans, after each compartment is filled to the level of the lowest stepof its partition, the oil will overflow the tops of all the partitionsand find its level in the trough.

To guard against accidental variances in the capacity of eachcompartment, each is supplied with a vertically-adjustabledisplacingblock, 0, by the adjustment of which an equal quantity of oilcan be insured to each compartment.

It will now be understood that when the trough is empty the scales holdit at its high est level. When the faucets are opened each compartmentof the trough is rapidly filled, and so soon as all are tilled and theoil has found a level in the trough the trough overpowers thecounterpoises of the scales and descends to the lowest level which thescales permit it to assume. If, therefore, the scales be watched, thecondition of the trough can be accurately determined and the faucetsclosed at the proper moment, so that no overplus of oil results. Inpractice, however, the supply of oil is so rapid that even if thefaucets are instantly closed at the moment when the scales indicate thatthe trough is properly supplied, yet a sufficient amount of oil remainsin the nozzles ofthe faucets to cause a slight over-supply to thetrough, to regulate which a counterweight, I calculated to exactlybalance the oil remaining in the nozzles of the faucets after theclosing of their cocks, is hung upon the trough, and removed by theoperative at the instant that the trough descends and that the faucetsare closed, whereby only the exact supply of oil requisite to exactlyfill each can is obtained in the trough.

Resti n g in journals Q, erected from standards R upon either end of thetrough, is a valveshaft, 8, which extends the length of the trough, andterminates at the end nearest the handle of the faucets in a hand-wheel,T, which controls the rotation of the same. To this shaft is connected aseries of flat chains or the like, corresponding in number to thecompartments of the trough, which extend down into each compartment, andare connected with conevalves U by means of len gth-adj ustin g devicesV, and by. for instance, two large links, 6 0, adapted to obviatekinking in the chain.

The valves rest in valve-seats \V, connected with spouts X, adapted tocome over the nozzles ot' the cans for the filling of the same.

The hand-wheel is provided with notchesY upon opposite extremities, of avertical diameter considered with reference to the position of the wheelwhen the valves are in their seats.

A pivot-arm, Z, pivoted to the reservoir, is adapted to rest in thenotch which is uppermost when the valves are in their seats.

After the trough has been filled and has descended upon the scales, theoperative revolves the hand-wheel in the direction indicated by thearrow in Fig. 4, whereby the pivot-arm lifts out of the first notch anddrops into the lower notch as the latter is revolved beneath it, withthe effect of locking the hand-wheel in a position that retains all thevalves out of their seats, during which period of retention thecompartments are emptied of their oil, and the cans which are arrangedupon a gage, or, for instance, upon such a platform as is described inmy Letters Patent No. 167,356, tilled.

WVhen the oil ceases to flow from the spouts the cans arefull, and theoperative then thumbs up the pivot-arm so as to release the handwheel,whereupon the valves simultaneously descend by gravity into their seats,after which the faucets can be turned on and the operation instantlyrepeated.

Incident to my invention is the advantage that the scales are fixed, andthat the trough has only a vertical movement corresponding to the throwof the scales, whence results that the spouts are not introduced intothe nozzles of the cans, but stop at some distance above them.

The adjustability of the valve-chains renders a nice adjustment of eachvalve possible.

Vhen desired, other supply and stand pipes may be applied to thesecondary reservoir, or the arrangementmaybe other than that shown.

Havingthus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States 1. In an apparatus forsimultaneously filling a series of cans, a trough hung to rigid scales,provided with a series of spouts and combined with a series of valvesfitted to said spouts and adapted to be simultaneously operated by arevolving valve-shaft connected therewith and with the trough,substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus for sin'iultaneously fillin g a series of cans, asecondary reservoir connected with a primary source ofsuppl y adapted tobe emptied into a trough and provided with a stand-pipe, as and for thepurpose specified.

3. The combination, with a valve-shaft pro vided with a hand-wheel orother analogous device for operating and locking the shaft, of a seriesof adjustable chains or the like, to which are attached a series ofvalves, substantially as shown and described, and for the purposespecified.

4. In combination with the stand-pipe of a secondary reservoir, acap-piece constructed and operating as hereinbefore set forth.

5. In an apparatus for simultaneously filling a series of cans, atrough' constructed and operating as set forth, in combination with aset of fixed scales, the arrangement being such that the trough has avertical movement limited by the scales to an extent which in itsdescent brings its spouts near to but not into the nozzles of the cansto be filled therefrom.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name this 14th day ofFebruary, A. D. 1880.

GEORGE H. PERKINS.

In presence of- J. BONSALL TAYLOR, O. B. TAYLOR.

